Small parties collect signatures for the start in Salzburg
A total of 600 signatures are required to stand in the state elections on April 23. This is not possible to sign online.
Starting tomorrow, Thursday, campaigning parties in Salzburg can collect declarations of support for running in the state elections on April 23, 2023. A total of 600 signatures are required for this: 120 in the state capital and in Flachgau, 100 in Pinzgau and Pongau and 80 in Tennengau and Lungau. Anyone who submits a declaration of support can only die in person at the magistrate or municipal office in their municipality of residence. This is not possible online.
ÖVP, SPÖ, FPÖ and the Greens can save themselves the time-consuming process of collecting votes: the support of three members of the state parliament is sufficient for a nationwide campaign. This is particularly bitter for the Neos: The Pinken were admitted to the state parliament with three mandates after the 2018 state elections, but in March 2022 the club chairman Josef “Sepp” Egger left the party and joined the ÖVP club as a non-party mandatary.
Neos country manager Andrea Klambauer was optimistic on Wednesday that the necessary declarations in all districts could be quickly put together. “We enter into dialogue with people to get confirmation that we can bring in the best political ideas again in the next legislative period,” she said. The KPÖ Plus – which only ran in the state elections five years ago in the city of Salzburg and in Flachgau – will start collecting signatures from Thursday. “Our goal is to compete nationally. As a social and critical opposition with a focus on affordable housing, we want to be on the ballot in every district,” explained KPÖ-Plus top candidate Kay-Michael Dankl.
MFG and Liste Salzburg are fighting for critics of vaccination
From the camp of vaccination critics and corona measures opponents, two groups see themselves competing this year. “We currently have 2,500 members who we are asking for statements of support. We expect that there will be a start in every district, ”explained Patrick Prümer, finance officer at MFG Salzburg. The list “We are Salzburg” split off from the MFG by the preferred MFG federal manager and MFG Salzburg boss Gerhard Pöttler also wants to collect signatures. “We are 60 to 70 people who will take care of it,” said Pöttler. “We’re optimistic, even if it’s going to be difficult. If we can do it, it could possibly be called a sensation.”
The collection of signatures by the Christian Party of Austria (CPÖ), which last appeared on the ballot paper in Flachgau five years ago, is still open. You should first discuss this internally in a meeting.
Eligible to vote is anyone who has their main residence in Salzburg on tomorrow’s deadline, January 19, is an Austrian citizen and is at least 16 years old on the day of the election. Salzburg residents abroad can also choose. However, they may not live far from home for more than ten years and must actively submit an application for inclusion in the electoral register. You have until February 24th to do so. Then it will also be clear how many voters there are actually. Voting cards can probably be delivered from March 20, 2023.
Several small parties also criticized the fact that statements of support cannot be submitted online or digitally in the APA talks on Wednesday. Anonymity is not guaranteed, especially in small communities, which could prevent citizens from signing.